Girl fighting for her ‘right to die’ chooses life

London, England, Jul 31, 2009 / 03:31 am (CNA).-
A fourteen year-old British girl who fought last Fall for her ‘right to die,’ has changed her mind and chosen to continue her treatments, including a heart transplant.

In November 2008, Hannah Jones made headlines when medics took the then 13-year old girl to court after she refused a heart transplant, which was weakened by her treatment for leukemia. It was a decision her parents supported.

“Obviously we want to have Hannah with us as long as possible, but we are not going to force her to do something that she doesn’t want to do at this time,” her father, Andrew Jones told The Daily Mail.

At the time Hannah explained that her treatments were getting to be too exhausting and difficult. “I don’t like to be like this but I live with it,” she said.

In response to her refusal, administrators at the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust in Hereford, England decided to seek temporary custody of the child in order to “force” her to undergo the surgery. However, after several court hearings and a report from a child protection officer, the hospital withdrew its legal action.

Pro-euthanasia groups praised the girl, while pro-life groups charged that the teen was being manipulated by “death with dignity” rhetoric.

Now it is being reported by Sky News and numerous other British news outlets that Hannah has changed her mind about the operation after suffering a partial kidney failure on July 12.

When a heart became available, she was transferred to London and underwent a six-and-a-half-hour surgery. Jones’ operation was a success, but she is still recuperating in intensive care.